By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Police Regional Office (PRO-6) rendered arrival honors to its personnel who were deployed to Cebu on June 18, 2020 at the height of COVID-19 infections in the area
Only 42 of the 53-person contingent witnessed the arrival honors 8 am Friday at Fort San Pedro, Iloilo City.
Police Colonel Ross Alvarado, PRO-6 deputy regional director for operations, led PRO-6 regional headquarters in welcoming the troops
Abiding with the protocols for travelers, the 42 personnel were immediately checked in the triage manned by the Regional Health Service (RHS)-6 staff.
After the checking, they were immediately ferried to different quarantine facilities nearest their residences as arranged earlier by the PRO-6 command.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, explained that 10 policemen were still in Cebu.
Two were earlier found positive for Covid-19 while seven were tagged as “close contacts” of the two positive patients.
Police Lieutenant Ryan Orleans, on the other hand, was tasked to supervise the remaining personnel in Cebu City and will travel back to Iloilo as soon as they are cleared to do so.
One police officer was earlier sent home after his mother died in Roxas City.
Meanwhile, Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Western Visayas police chief, recognized the efforts of PRO-6 personnel in the battle against COVID-19.
“I am glad that they have made it home safely. The good feedbacks about them made us really proud of them,” he said.
Relatedly, PRO-6 bestowed Medalya ng Kadakilaan for personnel who contracted the virus.
Aside from the two personnel who were earlier confirmed as COVID-19 positive, three personnel had also tested positive.
Two were found positive on July 22 and another one on July 29.
The Medalya ng Kagalingan was given to other contingent members.
The formal awarding will be scheduled after the quarantine of the contingents.
Records from the Regional Personnel and Records Management Division showed that 45 of the 53 personnel are detailed with the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU) based in Camp Delgado, Iloilo City; six from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO); and once each from the Iloilo City PO and Guimaras PPO.
Malong said they would be reassigned back to their units after completing their 14-day quarantine period.
